The Penn's Grove record., 1887-12-03

And then-I've heard Grandfather say
When she was seventeen,
One pitch dark night she ran away
With him to Gretna Green;
ALI this, my badness qualities
At times, when Ma unfurls
Her family history, and signs
For more ''o~ld-fashioned girls"
A JAPANESE L0VE-ST0RY.
At one end of the long street forming
the village of Morioka, in Japan. stood
the low matched cottage In which the
sisters O.Suba and Niya lived with q
widowed aunt. Their father had fall
len in battle, and his wife soon followed
him to the grave, committing her chill
dren to the care Of their only remaining
relative. O-Suba, the eldest, was q
brunette, with sparkling black eyes
and white teeth that shone between
full, rudy lips. She was taller than
Niya, who was fair and slight, with
mild blue eyes and q soft voice.
For over . year O'Suba had been
betrothed to Kampei, the on of q
neighboring farmer. Their parents had
arranged the matter. Though 1t was
not made formal by an exchange of
| presents, the young people regarded 1t
as settled; and the marriage was de-
| ferred only until Kampei returned from
q campaign against Q rebel prince, In
| which he was follow his lord, his father
being too old to take the field.
When the young man called on the
sisters in order to say adieu, he was
mortified by O-Suba's manner. which
seemed to show that she regarded his
absence "a a reprieve; and his face be-
trayed his feelings.
dDo not look thus, good Hamper.
| before your commander" she said
laughlngly. "He will think you a
coward. Go and win booty and come
back covered with glory. Who would
not be q soldier rather than a mean far
merp" she cried with animation. "a
warrior is q gentleman, has his pocket
full OF bright silver and is esteemed by
his lord. Go, Kampei; I shall desplse
you IL you h~esitatel"
Kampei was stung by her tones and
rose hastily. A deep sigh reached him
and on turning around he saw Niya
sitting In a corner of the room, her
face buried in the loose sleeves Of her
robe.
Farewell. Niya," he said.
A sob rose In the girls throat as she
replied, "Farewell, Kampei. And re-
member" she faltered. "that If any
thing occurs to you. I've shall be
broken-hearted."
"You will not forget me, O-SubaP
It will cheer me to know that"
81 shall not forget you," she said
impatiently; and the young man left,
catching q glance $ he closed the gar.
den gate Of O-Suba waving. a gay
adieu, and Of Niya with her face hid.
den IN her hands.
One day, q few months after Kan.
pei's departure, his mother called al
the cottage, and after relating q pitiful
tale Of bad harvests, poverty and debt,
said that her husband, who was in fee.
bic health, would be sent to prison II
she could not obtain eighty riy0s, and
she begged O-Suba, as her sons be
trothed, to- at least lend that sum tt
her. OSuba treated the poor woman
harshly, refused the money and re.
minded her visitor that as presents are
not yet exchanged their marriage must
not be regarded Is certain.
Nlya In vain urged her aunt to apply
a portion of her little fortune to the
farmers relief. Her relatives were
Obdurate, and the old woman was going
away sadly, whBn the younger girl
sprang up, thrust her feet into hel
sandals and hurried after the visitor.
~overtaking her before she reached the
gate.
"When must you have the money!
she said.
within three days, Niya."
"You shall have it." said the girl
and escaping from the thanks ani
blessings Of the old woman, she re
turned to the house. She threw her
self on the mat In the corner, clasped
her hands and puckered her brow
thoughtfully.
Suddenly she uttered a Joyous cry.
The screens were drawn back. leaving
the whole front Of the house open; and
Niya saw q pair OF swallows fly intt
the room and perch IN the space be
tween the wall and the ceiling, chirpip5
and ~chattering together busily.
'See. sister, the pretty birds arr
going to build; good fortune will b,
ours. Sh-h-hI Dear O-Suba, d.
not disturb them, and she laid her hant
imploringly on her sisters arm a
O-Suba laughed at her enthusiasm.
Niya sat there eagerly watching thu
movements Of the birds and their many
flights to and fro while building Their
nest.
Her relatives went out soon aftei
and Niya, after q long look at the still
busy swallows, dressed herself and wen
out, too. When O-Suba aud her auni
returned Niya was not at home and /
was long before they saw her face:
When the army to which Kampe
belonged was disbanded his comradeI
gave themselves up to revelry, whil'
he, eager to see O-Suba and anxious Il
see about his parents, Of whose trouble
he had heard. hastened homeward.
He was within Q short days iourne,
of his native village, when toward sun
set he reached q tea house bearing OF
one Of the posts the sing "Chaya Of tn,
Verdant Cherry Blossom" The screen
forming the front were thrown back
showing the whole inside Of the house
divided into apartments by moyabl,
partitions; and in M Of the rooms
number Of gentlemen retainers' saf
drinking; their songs reaching th,
passers by mingled with the noise O
their quarrels.
As Kampei cast away outside tn
veranda his dusty sandals some of tn
female attendants ran out to meet hin
with cries OF welcome.
GOOD afternoon, siri Be goo(